The Torcian Chronicles

Mesham sits dejectedly in a tiny garret above an inn, as the lands of Torcia fall to the magically-enhanced army of the infamous Mivirian Horde. One of the last surviving ancient warlocks of Torcia, Mesham knows he is marked for death.

The Torcian king knocks on Mesham’s door later that evening and offers him the chance of rejuvenation in return for a seemingly impossible mission into the heart of Mivir. Mesham reluctantly agrees, only to realise the evil of Mivir has spread to the very top of the Torcian government.

As Mesham undertakes his quest to complete the mission, he finds himself hunted by his king, by the mighty Torcian warbands, and by the Horde.

But he cannot fail, for the fate of Mesham’s beloved Torcia rests in his hands.

Here’s my review,

“There’s hardly a page that goes by without some sort of action or excitement.”

I’ve always been a huge Fantasy fan, I cut my teeth, so to speak, on Narnia and Lord of the Rings, way back when. I’m a huge fan of Game of Thrones, The Sword of Truth series and a few others. I like the mixture of medieval and modern, the magic which lurks and the incredibly detailed world building that an epic struggle requires.

I love the allegory too, the comparison between now and a mythical then. C.S. Lewis did it brilliantly in Narnia, and Tolkien based the destruction of Middle Earth on what he saw as the ravages of a mechanical and industrial society that had lost touch with its pastoral roots. It’s good to read a new fantasy and start to work out what has influenced it.

As we arrive in Torcia, the first thing you notice is the map. Maps are great, every good fantasy should have one. This map is a corker, it’s a pity the version in my copy doesn’t enlarge well. I’ve managed to find a better version online – it’s worth it. It immediately shows you the scale of the place, enables you to see what’s at stake.

We’re straight into the action, and it’s not a pretty start for our characters. Torcia is under attack by a bunch of bloodthirsty invaders. They appear to have magic on their side. And they’re not afraid to use it!

The thing that grabs you is that this is a big world, the author has filled it with all sorts of interesting things. The physical world is well described, as are the amazing powers that exist and there is a cast of truly interesting creatures. Intentions are not always clear, with every new encounter you must wonder, are these good guys or bad? The lead character, Mesham, is complex and the motley crew that assembles around him have the potential to develop into a proper group as the story progresses.

And as for the adversaries they encounter? Well, you need to see just what inhabits this land, it’s certainly not a home from home. Dangers abound, from the plants, animals and other humans – everything, magical or not, seems out to thwart Mesham’s plans to save his land from the invaders.

There’s a logical sequence to everything that goes on, as in every journey, a sense of achievement with every step forward, with the added feeling that just around the corner is a setback. It all adds to the excitement as our band of heroes assemble and prepare to do battle.

Imagination is a wonderful thing, this authors mind is filled with magic, evil creatures, fights, escapes by the skin-of-the-teeth and really, really big explosions. Action leaps from the pages, there’s hardly one that goes by without some sort of heart-stopping excitement as our hero’s quest commences, and the growing band realise just what they’ve let themselves in for. Saving the world is the object of the exercise, it’s a big job – have they got what it takes?

Not content with giving us a great story, at the back of the book there is a glossary of the language and magical terms that the author has used. A nod to Tolkien and Herbert and great fun to read on its own.

There’s potential in its pages for all sorts of backstory. I think that, as well as Mesham’s story, we need to know more about the history of Torcia and how it got to this position.

As for the magical spells, maybe it’s best if you don’t try them at home!

This is the first of a series, I can’t wait for the next one. It’s a big FIVE STARS from me!